British Horseracing Authority (BHA) chief executive Brant Dunshea has issued a stark warning that the government’s latest Budget measures will inflict a “devastating impact” on the sport. The announcement of a five-percentage-point increase in Gaming Machine Duty, raising the rate to 25 percent, is projected to strip £57 million from the industry’s annual finances. Dunshea emphasized that while regulators avoided a worst-case scenario of a 40-percent levy, the current trajectory poses an existential threat to the sector’s financial stability.
Gaming duty hike threatens job losses and racecourse viability across the UK
The financial fallout extends beyond immediate revenue loss, with the BHA predicting a cascade of negative consequences including significant reductions in prize money and the potential elimination of thousands of jobs. A primary driver of this crisis is the anticipated closure of hundreds, if not thousands, of high-street betting shops, which currently serve as a critical revenue channel. With British racing deriving nearly one-third of its £350 million annual income from retail betting, the shrinking footprint of these shops directly undermines the sport’s ability to fund operations and maintain competitive standards.
Dunshea’s statement highlights a growing viability crisis for racecourses, which may struggle to remain operational under the new fiscal burden. The BHA argues that the proposed duty hike ignores the structural reliance of the racing industry on retail betting infrastructure. As the sector braces for a multi-million-pound annual deficit, stakeholders are now calling for a re-evaluation of the tax policy to prevent long-term damage to one of the UK’s most historic sports.
Source: Sky Sports
